Method of and apparatus for producing expansion-joint spaces in con



- Oct. 15, 1929. A FISCHER 1,731,335

METHOD OF AND APPARATU 0R PRODUCING EXPANSION JOINT SPACES IN CONCRETE OR THE LIKE STRUCTURES Filed Aug. 12. 1926 3 HMWHIHW r jiberZGJiSc/wei Patented Oct. 15, 1929 j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT C. FISCHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PHILIP CAREY MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING EXPANSION-JOINT SPACES IN CON- I CRETE OR'THE LIKE STRUCTURES Application filed August 12, 1926.

of expansion joints or other like means compensating for expansion and contraction of the concrete due to climatic conditions.

As heretofore practiced, different methods have been employed for installing expansion joints. One method recognized as a practical installation is to use preformed strips and place'the same on edge at spaced intervals and pour the concrete around the same so as to divide the road or other structure as the case may be into a plurality, of subdivided sections. Another'method recognized as more or less satisfactory is to leave a space at intervals in the concrete structure and later fill this space with a so called poured joint. In

practicing this latter method it is customary to use a strip and pour the concrete around the strip andafter the concrete is set remove the strip and leave the space referred to. There is also a third method which is quite similar to the last mentioned method except that instead of filling in the space after the temporary strip has beenremoved the space is simply left unfilled. My invention is more or less closely related to the last two mentioned methods, at least so far as the results accomplished are concerned, but it differs materially therefrom in comparing the apparatus heretofore used to the apparatus forming a part of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated the apparatus which represents one of the important features of my invention and with the illustration also showing the manner of using the apparatus and the results accomplished by the same.

In said drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of one embodiment of the apparatus. 1

Figure 2 is a detailed view in cross section taken on the line 2-2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a modified form of the apparatus or rather a part of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a perspective view in detail of the tongue and groove installation.

Serial No. 128,842.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a crown installing device. 7 Figure 6 is a view in cross section of the installation of the tongue and groove device.

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the apparatus, and

Figure 8 is a detailed View in cross section of an expansion oint installation accomplished with the apparatus. 7

Referring now to the drawing in detail and considering the concrete slabs A and B as a part of a roadway construction which is to be subdivided by expansion joints, I will first proceed to describe one way in which a space may be formed in the concrete for accommodating the expansion joint material. Before the concrete is poured or else immediately after it is poured and while still wet, I imbed a metal strip in the concrete, the top edge of the strip terminating flush with the surface of the concrete or else projecting slightly above the same as the case may be. This separatingstrip may be made in several more or. less practical ways, but for the most part I prefer to construct it of a flexible metal band 5 and usually in sections joined together by detachable joints 6. One end of the band, or

perhaps it would be better to, describe same as a tape, is securely anchored to a post 7 staked outside of the area of the concrete and the opposite end of the tape is connected to a tightening device capable of imparting a good jstifi pull to the tape so as to stretch it taut the like 8 securely braced as at 9 in the direction of the pull, and having an internally threaded sleeve 10 on the head thereof through which the threaded'pull rod 11 extends and with the rod carrying a wheel or other turning device 12. A locking barrel 13 is keyed to the rod 11 so as to rotate therewith and a dogging device comprisinga finger 14 is pivoted to the top of the sleeve 10. The finger when at rest engages one of the longitudinal slots in the circumference of the barrel 13 and thus holds the rod 11 against rotation. To turn the rod 11 the finger is raised up so as to release the barrel. It is of course understood that the connection 15 for the pull cords 16 is swiveled so as not to upset the tape. The pull cords are connected to a vertical pin 17 which in turn is provided with hooks 18 at its respective ends adapted to engage opcn ings l9 punched in the tape for detachably connecting the tape to the pulling device.

From the above it will be readily seen that I can stretch the tape at any desired location in the concrete structure or where the concrete structure is to be laid. After the concrete has set the tape will be removed so as to leave a space for the reception of expansion oint material or else for leaving an unfilled space.

Should the laying of the concrete progress fast enough so that the entire length of the tape will be imbedded before it is time to remove same, ll can leave some of the sections imbedded and by disconnecting the sections adjacent to the tightening device, or else dis connecting the tightening device by disengaging hooks 18, I can add on more sections and carry the tightening device any distance in advance of the concrete and in this way pro-- gressively add as many sections as I have need for.

There are two cooperating accessories that I may use to advantage with this apparatus, each of which being adapted to add to the installation more than can be accomplished with the tape alone.

One of these accessories comprises a so called tongue and groove installation, the same comprising a metal strip stamped or otherwise formed with a groove on one side and a projecting tongue on the opposite side.

WVhen installed in the concrete, and provided of course that the concrete is properly poured around same, it will act as a mould and produee a tongue on the side of one concrete section and a groove on the side of an abutting concrete section. In this construction the sections are interlocked and when subjected to expansion due to the heat, the tongue and groove interlocking construction will prevent one section rising and riding over an adjacent section. This so-called rising or riding of the sections is more or less common in con crete structures where high temperatures are experienced and other climatic conditions expand the concrete to a considerable extent. In constructing this metal strip, 1 will ordinarily provide it with a downwardly slanting leg 20 and an opposed slanting leg 21, terminating in a vertically presented edge 22. The metal spaced at intervals along this edge 22, is cut and punched into key-like studs 23 made to engage the bayonet joint connections 24 in the tape 5 and in this way the tongue and groove strip may be detachably secured to the tape and installed along with the same as best shown in Figure 6. Even when imbedded in the concrete as shown in Figure 6, by impartmg a reverse pull to the tape 5 the bayonet joint connections 2-l will slip the key-like studs 23 and release the tape, whereupon it may be ren'ioved from the concrete leaving the tongue and groove strip permanently inibedded therein. To add rigidity to the installation of the tongue and groove strip 1 may equip same with stakes 25, which may be driven into the base or subsoil of the road bed. These stakes will be made with an upwardly presented bifurcation 26 adapted to receive the edge of the downwardly slanting leg 20 of the tongue and groove strip and with one leg 2? of the bifurcation extending along the bottom of this downwardly slanting leg 20 and terminating in an inwardly turned end 28, the same gripping the angle of the tongue and groove strip and securely fastening the stakes in place.

Instead of the stakes 25, I may simply punch holes in the leg 20 of the tongue and' groove strip and insert relatively long spikes 29 for staking purposes.

The second accessory comprises a so-called temporary crown consistin of a ilat top strip 30 having downwardly depending concave sides 31 and a center groove 32 ada ncd to snugly tit the edge of the tape 5 so that the tape can carry it and when installed with the device in place and the concrete is poured around the same the concave sides 31 will' round oil the corners of the sides of the confronting sections so that after the joint 1naterial is installed the corners of the concrete will be rounded, thus avoiding spalling.

its shown in Figure 8, this rounded effect is accomplished in this form of joint, simply by using the crowning device 30 with the tape and the space produced by the same is filled with expansion oint material 33 and a crown the corners of the concrete rounded oif.

For the sake of clearness T will refer back to the third method of joint inz-alallation, alluded to on page 1 of the specification. particularly lilies commencing with line 25 and terminating with line 29. In other words, while I have referred to the apparatus in connection with expansion joint, it should not be overlooked that it would serve to quite an ad vantage in producing so called contraction joint spaces. the same being unfilled and of a depth less than that of the depth of the concrete, so that upon contraction of the joint the spaces left by the tape will act as a guide, and any cracks resulting from contraction will follow the lines made by the s aces and thus prevcit the cracks from occurring at other places in the concrete. In other words, the

spaces left by the removal of the tape simply offer a weakened area, so that any cracks re sulting from contraction will occur along the line of this weakened space.

concrete.

2. Means for producing expansion joint spaces 1n concrete or the like structures, comprising a tape adapted to be embedded in the concrete and removed therefrom after the concrete has set, and means for stretching said tape across an area to be covered with concrete, comprising an anchoring stake for one end of the tape and a tightening device for the opposite end of the tape.

3. Means for producing expansion joint spaces in concrete or the likestructures, comprising a tape adapted to be embedded in the concrete and removed therefrom after the concrete hasset, and means for stretching said tape across anarea to be covered with concrete, comprising an anchoring stake for one end of the tape and a tightening device for the opposite end of the tape, said tightening device embodying in its construction astake, a threaded sleeve on said stake, a threaded pull rod in said sleeve to which the tape is connected, and a rotating device for said rod to tighten or loosen thetape.

4-. :Means for producing expansion joint spaces in concrete or the like structures, comprising a tape adapted to be embedded in the concrete and removed 'therefromafter the concrete has set, and means for stretching said tape across an area to be coveredwith concrete, comprising an anchoring stake for one end of the tape and a tightening device for the opposite end of the tape, said tightening device embodying in its construction a stake, a threaded sleeve on said stake, a. threaded pull rod in said sleeve to which the tape is connected, and a rotating device for said rod to tighten or loosen the tape, and

means for arresting rotation of the rod and locking the same for holding an adjustment of the tape.

5. Means for producing expansion joint spaces in concrete or the like structures, comprising a tape adapted to be embedded in the concrete and removed therefrom after the concrete has set, and means for stretching said tape across an area to be covered with concrete, comprising an anchoring stake for one end of the tape and a tightening device for the opposite end of the tape, said tightening device embodying in its construction a stake, a threaded sleeve. on said stake, a threaded pul rod in said sleeve to which the tape is connected, and a rotating device for said rod to tighten or loosen the tape, and means for arresting rotation of the rod and locking the same for holding an adjustment of the tape, comprising a barrel mounted to turn with the rod, said barrel having longitudinal grooves in its circumference, and a dogging device pivoted to the sleeve and adapted to engage in said grooves.

6. Means for producing expansion joint spaces in concrete or the like structures, comprising a metal tape, said tape being con structed in detachably connected sections and adapted to be embedded in the concrete and removed therefrom after the concrete has set, and means for stretching said tape across an area to be covered with concrete.

7. Means for producing expansion joint spaces in concreteor the like structures, comprising a metal tape, said tape being constructed in detachably connected sections and adapted to be embedded in the concrete and removed therefrom after the concrete has set, and means for stretching said tape across an area to be covered with concrete, comprising an anchoring stake for one end of the tape and a tightening device for the opposite end of the tape.

8. Means for producing expansion joint spaces in concrete or the like structures, comprising a metal tape, said tape being constructed in detachably connected sections and adapted to be embedded in the concrete and removed therefrom after the concrete has set, and means for stretching said tape across an area to be covered with concrete,

comprising an anchoring stake for one end of the tape and a tightening-device for the opposite end of the tape, said tightening device embodying in its construction a stake, a threaded sleeve on said stake, a threaded pull rod in said sleeve to which the tape is connected, and a rotating device for said rod to tighten or loosen the tape.

9. Means for producing expansion joint spaces in concrete or the like structures, comprising a metal tape, said tape being constructed in detachably connected sections and adapted to be embedded in the concrete and removed therefrom after the concrete has set, and means for stretching said tape across an area to be covered with concrete, comprising an anchoring stake for one end of the tape and a tightening device for the opposite end of the tape, said tightening device embodying in its construction a stake, a threaded sleeve on said stake, a threaded pull rod in said sleeve to which the tape is connected, and a rotating device for said rod to tighten or loosen the tape, and means for arresting rotation of rod and locking the same for holding anadjustment of the tape.

10. Means for producing expansion joint spaces in concrete or the like structures, comprising a metal tape, said tape being constructed in detachably connected sections and adapted to be embedded in the concrete and removed therefrom after the concrete has set, and means for stretching said tape across an area to be covered with concrete, comprising an anchoring stake for one end of the tape and a tightening device for the opposite end of the tape, said tightening device embodying in its construction a stake, a threaded sleeve on said stake a threaded pull rod in said sleeve to which the tape is connected, and a rotating device for said rod to tighten or loosen the tape, and means for arresting rotation of rod and locking the same for holding an adjustment of the tape, comprising a barrel mounted to turn with the rod, said barrel having longitudinal grooves in its circumference, and a dogging device pivoted to the sleeve and adapted to engage in said grooves.

11. The method of installing a separating strip in concrete which consists in suspending the strip from a supporting device and staking it to a base in the position in which it is to be installed in the concrete, pouring the concrete around the strip and the suspending means, and later removing the suspending means but leaving the strip imbedded.

12. The method of installin a separating strip in concrete which consists in detachably suspending the strip in the position in which it is to be installed in the concrete, pouring the concrete around the strip and the suspending means, later removing the suspending means to leave a space above the strip and therea'tter filling said space with poured expansion joint material.

13. The method of installing a separating strip in concrete which consists in installing the strip and a carrier therefor in the posi tion in which the strip is alternately to be installed in the concrete, pouring the concrete around the strip and the carrier, and later removing the carrier but leaving the strip imbedded, and thereafter filling the space left by the removal of the carrier with poured expansion joint material.

1%. The method of installing expansion joint in concrete, which consists in stretching a tape across the area. to be covered with concrete, suspending the expansion joint in position, pouring concrete around said joint, and removing the tape after the concrete has set.

15. Means for embedding a tongue and groove strip in a concrete construction comprising a metal tape, means for stretching the tape across an area to be covered with concrete, and means for detachably connecting the tongue and groove strip to the tape.

16. Means for embedding a tongue and groove strip in a concrete construct-ion comprising a metal tape, means for stretching the tape across an area to be covered with concrete, and means for detachably connecting the tongue and groove strip to the tape, comprising bayonet joint slots in the lower edge of the tape.

17. The herein described method oi installing expansion joints in concrete or the like structures, which consists in stretching relatively thin flexible tape across the area to be covered with concrete, suspcmling an expansion joint strip from the tape, pouring the concrete around the tape and strip so as to embed. the same therein but leaving the upper edge of the tape uncovered and re moving the tape from the concrete after the same has set to thereby leave an expansion joint space.

18. The herein described method of installing expansion joints in concrete or the like structures, which consists in stretching a flexible tape across the area to he covered with concrete, suspending an expansion joint strip from the tape, pouring the concrete around the tape and strip so as to embed the same therein but leaving the upper edge of the tape uncovered and removing the tape from the concrete after the same has set to thereby leave an expansion joint space, and thereafter filling said space with expansion joint material.

19. A. tape adapted to be embedded in concrete, said tape being formed o't detachably connected sections and means for stretching the tape across an area to be covered with the concrete.

20. A metal tape adapted to be stretched across an area to be covered with concrete, said tape being formed in sections and means detaehably intercoimecting said sections.

21. A tape adapted to be stretched across an area to be covered with concrete, said tape being formed in a plurality of articulated sections.

ALBERT C. FISCHER. 

